Musical toy.



0.1" GRAVELE'NE.

MUSICAL TOY.

APPLICATION- nusn JULY18, 1911.

1,258,558 Emma Mar. 5, 1918.

INVENTOR \NITNESSES ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR H. GRAVELINE, 0F MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

MUSICAL TOY.

Application filed July 18, 1917.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, OSCAR H. Gmwnnrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Meriden, in the county of New Haven arl State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Musical Toys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends the provision of a musical toy, particularly designed to create a sound similar to a snare drum. but susceptible of creating various noises for the amusement of children, the invention aiming to provide a toy of this character which can be most co veniently handled and manipulated, and also manufactured and sold at a nominal cost.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detail description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming Jart of this specification like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a nodi'ied form of the invention.

Fig. 4t is similar view of a still further modified form.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. l.

Fi 6 is a detail View of one of the b springs.

Referring to the draw. '9 in detail and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the toy essentially consists of a base 10 which may be constructed from any suitable material and configuration, it being preferably constructed of wood and of elongated rectangular formation in cross section. Arranged at one end of the base is what 1 term a sounding block, which in this instance is hollow, and preferably constructed from a single blank of metal. The sounding block is substantially of U-shaped formation in cross section, including a top piece 11, front and rear walls 12 which terminate short of the base 10, and side Walls 13 which are arranged to be secured to the opposite longitudinal edges of the base 10 in any suitable Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

Serial No. 181,391.

manner, thus rigidly supporting the sounding block on the base.

Rising from the opposite longitudinal edges of the base 10 at an appropriate point in its length, are spaced parallel standards 14- between which is journaled a shaft 15, preferably of rectangular formation in cross section. Secured to the upper surface of the shaft 15 is a finger .ctuated clapper 16, which consists of a flat elongated piece of material, preferably wood. The clapper is secured at an appropriate point in its length to the shaft 15, and the latter is positioned with respect to the sounding block so that the clapper normally assumes a true horizontal position, considering the position in which the t\ 's are disclosed in the drawing. Que end of the clapper onrlics the sounding block while the opposite end projects a short distance beyond the correspondin e2;- tremity of the base 10. Secured to the underside of the clapper adjacent that extremity which. 0 lies th sounding block, a round headed tack or the like 17 which contacts the sounding block to create a coinparatively loud noise, when the clapper is actuated.

The toy also embodies a leaf spring 18 which has one end formed to provide a hook 19 which embraces the edge of the base at one end thereof, and has a portion of its length normally contacting the upper surface of the base as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The spring has its opposite extremity curved upwardly and rearw rdly and interposed between the shaft 15 and clapper 16 being securely held in position between the fastening elements 20 outlined for securing the clapper to the shaft. This end of the spring is also formed with a terminal flange 21 which bears a gainst one of the adjacent sides of the shaft as shown. Manifestly, the disposition of the spring is such that it norm ally maintains the clapper in the position shown in Fig. 1, and when the clapper is actuated to move the same away from the sounding block, the spring is tensioned to forcibly return the latter to normal position, or in other words in contact with the sounding block to create the desired noise.

In use the toy is held in the left hand, and resting the thumb of the. right hand upon the base 10, and letting the four fingers of the right hand slip downwardly over the adjacent extremity of the clapper, one after the other, a sound is created which imitates a block is solid.

snare drum, a roll call, and the beat of marches. The sound can be varled by moving the fingers over the clapper in the manner stated with more or less rapidity. It will be observed tha the finger engaging end of the clapper is beveled or inclined as at 22 to permit the fingers to slip easily over this end, which is desirable for a convenient manipulation of the toy.

In Fig. 3 I have disclosed a modified form of the invention wherein the base is indicated at 23, and the sound block at Ql. In this form of the invention the entire toy is preferably constructed from wood, and the sound The toy in this form of the invention is similar in other respects to the preferred form of the invention hereinabove described, and is operated in identically the same manner and for the same purpose.

In Fig. 4: I disclose a still further modified form of the invention, which is also by preference constructed of wood, although other suitable material may be employed in its production. In contradistinction to the standards 14 described in connection with the preferr d form of the invention, the toy disclosed in Fi g. 4 embodies spaced parallel side walls which rise from the opposite longitudinal edges of the base 26, and have fitted therebctween the sounding block 26 carried by one end of the base. The toy disclosed in this figure is otherwise similar to the form shown in Fig. 3, and is operated in identically the same manner as the preferred form of the invention.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement of parts illustrated, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is 1. A toy of the character described embodying a base, a sounding block arranged at one end of the base, spaced parallel members carried by the base, a shaft journaled between said members, a finger actuated clapper secured to said shaft, yieldable means normally maintaining said clapper longitudinally of the base with one end in contact with said sounding block, and the opposite end of said clapper projecting beyond the base and having an inclined finger engaging portion.

2. A toy of the character described embodying a base, a sounding block arranged at one end of the base, spaced parallel members carried by the base, a finger actuated clapper pivotally mounted between said members, a spring having one end associated with the base, and its opposite end connected with the clapper and normally maintaining the latter in a position longitudinally of the base with one end in contact with said sounding block.

3. A toy of the character described embodying a base, a sounding block arranged at one end of the base, spaced parallel members carried by the base, a shaft journaled between said members, a finger actuated clapper secured to the shaft, a leaf spring having a hook terminal embracing one edge of the base, the opposite terminal of said spring being interposed between the shaft and clapper respectively, said spring maintaining said clapper normally in a position longitudinally of the base with one end contacting the sounding block, and the opposite end of said clapper projecting beyond the base for the purpose specified.

4:. A toy of the character described embodying a base, a hollow metallic sounding block arranged at one end of the base, said block being constructed from a single piece of material and of substantially U-shapcd formation in cross section, a finger actuated clapper pivoted at a point between its ends, and yieldable means for normally holding said clapper disposed longitudinally of the base with one end contactin said sounding block, and its opposite end projecting beyond the base.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

OSCAR I-I. GRAVELINE.

Ooplea of thin pltut may In obtained to: five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

